I had an unexpected trip to Tirupati where I passed by the thirupachur vaacheeswara temple. The temple is situated on the Chennai Tirupati route via Thiruvallur .Thiruvallur is situated at 50 km distance from Chennai The temple is located in Thirupachur just out side the Thiruvallur collectorate,It is situated at 7 km distance from the Thiruvallur railway station. . As the temple is situated on the Thiruvallur-Thirutani bus route, devotees can reach the temple by bus also.
The priest told me the temple is more than a 1500 years old and was primarily built by Karikala Chola.
AS you enter the eastern gate you see the Kodimaram and the Swarnakali.
(present state with covered enclosure next to kodimaram)
This Kali was fighting against the Chola king aligning with the Kurumbas (local tribals) and upon the request of Karikala Chola who was a great siva bhaktha, Lord shiva enticed kali with a golden necklace and enticed her here so first see her before visiting the temple.
The word ‘Pachu’ means bamboo in Tamil. Once, when some people were hunting in the forest, they saw a cow showering milk from its udder on something. When they dug the spot, they found a Sivalinga there. The Chola king Karikala came to know about this incident and built the temple here. A race, called Kurumba was giving lot of trouble to the king. Samanas, who supported these people tried to even kill the king through snake-bite. The king prayed at this sthala to protect him from these people. The Lord destroyed the snake and saved the king from the scheming Kurumbas. They wanted to bury the snake and the hunters used axes to dig the spot and one of the axes hit the head portion of the lingam. Even today, the scar is seen on the lingam. The term ‘Vaasi’ means axe in Tamil and it is believed that the deity at this sthala got the name Vacheeswara because of this term.
The Southern entrance Gopuram which is the Main entrance
Upon entering the temple, the devotees are greeted by Lord Vinayaka (Ganesh). Shodasa Ganapathy is depicted in eleven murtis of various sizes, which are grouped together. Elsewhere in the temple another five murtis of Ganapathy are found. The group of eleven Vinayaka murtis is called Ekadasa Vinayaka, ekadasa meaning 'eleven' in Sanskrit. These were worshipped by Lord Vishnu to get rid of his Madhu kaitapa dosha for having killed the two rakshasas by that name and another version of the priest was to retain his earnings as he was unable to create new wealth as all he obtained was given only as interest to kubera!!
The next sannidhi is Ambal sanidhi Usually, in Sivalayas, Ambal sannidhi would be located to the left of the sanctum of the Lord. But here, Ambal has been portrayed to the right, facing the east. The sanctum of Vacheeswara is also facing the east. Worship is offered to the Lord only after it is done to Ambal. The ambal is standing and is respelendent in bridal attire.
The main Sivan sannidhi is next. It has a gaja prishti vimanam signifying a swayambhu lingam.It is a seperate enclosure which has its own ante chamber and we can see the Sivalingam with the axe mark with sri chakra in front and also Somaskanda sculpture of Siva Parvathy and murugan in the back ground in the Main sannidhi. Shiva here is also known as Theenda Thirumeni nadhar, referring to a one who will not be touched probably a Sand lingam which will not have abhishekam directly and adorned with a kavacham.
In the inner praharam, we see sannidhis of Subrahmanya, Somaskanda and the Navgrahas. Sri Dakshinamurthy sannidhi is located as a separate sannidhi, facing the south. At the ‘koshta’ of the sanctum, Lingothbavar has been portrayed facing the west.
In the temple's inner praharam there is also a very beautiful deity of Lord Brahma.
Found in a standing posture with three faces and four arms, this exceptional deity of Brahmadeva resides in a rectangular stone niche in the outer sanctum sanctorum wall. Holding the mala and lota in his upper hands, his lower right hand is in abhaya mudra, with the other resting on his hip. Brahma wears an ornate crown, girdle and jewelry.
(pic courtesyhttp://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/11-09/features1540.htm)
The significance of Brahma here is that Vedas are being given protection by Siva.
At the northern end of the praharam, Sri Vishnu Durga, Sri Veerabhadra and Sri Swarna Bhairava can be seen.
great sages including Bringirishi, Romarishi, Bharadwaj, Kashyap, Vasishta, Narada, Sukar, Viswamitra and Vyasa ,great souls like Mankandeya and Abhimanyu have worshipped here. The temple has two tanks – Somatheertham and Mangalatheertham. The sthalavritcha is bamboo tree.
(Inscription in the temple)
Thevarams put up for devotees to recite for general well being)
The temple is badly in need of planned maintenance but there is no doubt about the deep spirituality of the place when you enter the temple
Thanks to publising about this temple.
ReplyDeleteI had recently visited the temple and was in awe of it's construction and history..the outer praharam have all been cleaned up ,and looks beautiful,with green grass and trees at the back of the temple ,with many birds singing in them....A must for all Shiva bhaktas...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information, I planned to visit this temple, when I searched how to reach there in the internet I come to notice your blog.
ReplyDeleteIt is a useful service that you are rendering by updating your experience in the blog, in induces me to do the same kind of service when I visit some temples. Thank a lot.
M.K. Vijayakumar, Chennai
thanks for the information about this temple...
ReplyDeletegreat info!! thank u!
ReplyDeleteThanks to Mr. Ravi for publishing about this temple.
ReplyDeleteI am a local from Thiruvallur. I have been visiting this temple regularly for the past 12 years.
Just to add information on the last photograph in this blog, it's the dyana mandapam. Near to this manadapam they have recently found out idols of Goddess Kali. Inside this mandapam there is dyana lingam.
When ever I visit this temple I get a feel of great satisfaction, rejuvenation.
Thanks for your blog. The sad part is that most of the locals are not aware of the greatness of this temple. Hope blogs like these will enlighten them.
Thanks,
Rakesh
Thanks for the update Rakesh
Deleteaphone number of the temple of all u visit would be helpful in performing & attending pujas.
ReplyDeleteI try to add all info available. Many a time the office is closed or there is no phone number available. This temple when I visited was about to be closed in the evening at about 5 PM after the puja as the priest said no one ever comes after wards. He did not have a telephone number.
DeleteThank you My family haled from Tirupasur and I have not been there Now I am researching to make a trip and found your Blob; I foud it interesting, useful and educative. Thanks
ReplyDeleteWonderful information I carry the middle name with ancestors from here. Just divine especially the adi shankara sri chakra, the ekadasa vinayagar and bhairavar also the devi is just wonderful. Highly sacred place.
ReplyDelete